NEW ORLEANS — It sure looked and sounded as if Saquon Barkley was having the time of his life.
Question. Smile. Shouts and shrieks of “Saquon … SAQUON!!! followed by a calm, cordial response, his head swiveling from one side to another as he tried to accommodate the mass of humanity jammed in around his podium.
Not just any podium. Barkley has been up on plenty of those in his football career. This was a Super Bowl podium, the first time he ever ascended such a grand stage.
Six years with the Giants, the closest Barkley ever came was one playoff victory after the 2022 season, meaning he never really got close, at all.
One season with the Eagles, and here he was Monday night, spotlight ready, appearing thrilled to be inside the Caesars Superdome amid the noise and the lights and the phalanx of bodies and microphones and cell phone cameras focused on every word he said and every facial expression he revealed.
Saquon Barkley answers questions on the field inside the Caesars Superdome during the Super Bowl Opening Night on February 3, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty ImagesThe advice he received from those who have been here before? Embrace it. All of it.
“Enjoy it, it’s part of it, stay locked in, keep the main thing the main thing,’’ Barkley said. “You never know the next time you’re gonna be there, it took you seven years to be here, it’s a great opportunity to have this platform so enjoy it and try to have as much fun as I can.
“You just got to take it all in. This is part of it, you got to enjoy it so I’m happy to be here, happy to have a conversation with you guys.’’
Some players tolerate this. Others try to duck and cover and hope it goes away as quickly as possible. Barkley was having a ball.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is interviewed during Super Bowl LIX Opening Night at Ceasars Superdome. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Saquon Barkley participates during Super Bowl 59 Opening Night, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. APThe evening was light on heavy football talk and filled with, well, a little bit of everything and something for everyone. A quick chat with some kids from Nickelodeon. A Spanish-speaking reporter wondered about his favorite Mexican dish.
“Is a quesadilla a Mexican dish?’’ he asked. “I’ll go with that.’’
Barkley turns 28 on Super Bowl Sunday, and he hopes he and the Eagles can prevent the Chiefs from winning an unprecedented third consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
“I think it’s pretty cool that the Super Bowl lands on my birthday,’’ he said. “Whether you win the Super Bowl on your birthday or the day after your birthday, it’s such a cool moment, makes you football royalty, it’s something you wanted to accomplish since you were a little kid.’’
He was asked to visualize the storybook way he would like to see this game end.
Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball for a 78-yard touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in the NFC divisional round. Getty Images“I’m biased because I’m a running back, probably some type of inside zone or wide zone, the ball on the 6-yard line, there’s 10 seconds left and we got a timeout and we need a touchdown to win,’’ Barkley said.
There were so many moments with the Giants when Barkley could not envision this because the losing was overpowering. The Giants played 99 games in six years with Barkley as their top running back and face of the franchise and went 34-64-1. In his first season with his new side, Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards and the Eagles went 14-3. He amassed 442 yards in three playoff victories, and became the first player to ever have three touchdown runs in the postseason of 60 or more yards.
The last time Barkley took the field, he ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-23 demolition of the Commanders in the NFC Championship game. It was a party at Lincoln Financial Field the likes of which Barkley had never before experienced.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Washington Commanders for a first down during the second half in the NFC Championship game. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con“That makes it more special, to play in an NFC Championship game and be able to win that game and have confetti fall down and you’re with your family. I’m there with my daughter. I’m there with my fiancee. I’m there with my son and my mom and my dad and my brother and sister. Those are the people that have been with me this whole time. Hopefully we can bring another special moment.’’
The week will include practices and more jam-packed news conferences. Barkley is planning on taking it all in stride. One day in, he was as serene as a player can be in advance of the biggest game of his life.
“The emotions right now are pretty calm,’’ Barkley said. “I think that will grow as the game gets closer. Right now, enjoying the moment, taking it all in.’’
